Dan koppen extended

[PatsDeb]

Hooray!! Someone who wants to stay!! Keep 'em coming!

 

[mcbee]

4M per year for a center? Sounds really high. He's decent, but wow.

No one can call them cheap now.

I hope they get Graham at much cheaper than that. I don't think Samuel is worth that much. He's just OK.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

4M per year for a center? Sounds really high. He's decent, but wow.

As they got it for 5 years I don't think it's too much. It'll look good 3 years from now.l

 

[patsox23]

Great news. Welcome "back," Koppen. Hope they'll sign at LEAST one of the remaining "big two" - Graham and Asante.

 

[broadwayjoe]

Thats great news its nice to extend Koppen I hope this is the start of things to come.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

As per EspnBoston ...just heard on felger's show...5 yrs 19-20 mill 7.5 mill bonus money

For comparison, LeCharles Bently got :

Signed a five-year, $36 million contract on 3/11/2006. The deal includes $12.5 million in guaranteed money.

I know, Bently is a pro bowler. But if you think we paid a lot, they paid almost twice as much.

 

[DarMan]

I guess he's not going home to Philly now

 

[Keegs]

awesome I'm really glad to hear this.

I'd love it if we resigned Graham next.

I was least worried about Samuel out of the 3. And if one had to go I would pick Asante.

 

[Isaac]

Finally! We've all been opening the message board for like 6 months now waiting for a piece of such news. Cool water on a parched throat!!

 

[Underoath]

awesome I'm really glad to hear this.

I'd love it if we resigned Graham next.

I was least worried about Samuel out of the 3. And if one had to go I would pick Asante.

eh, if i could choose between a TE and DB, i would easily take Asante in this situation, right now, we need a CB more than a TE, IMO.

 

[BradyManny]

Great news.

Anyone know what effect the signing and or the bonus have on this year's cap space?

 

[Keegs]

eh, if i could choose between a TE and DB, i would easily take Asante in this situation, right now, we need a CB more than a TE, IMO.

Yeah i understand completely where you are coming from.

And Lord knows 6 months ago I woulda agreed with you.... but I think differently about it now.

I just find Graham extremely valuable and would rather see him here.

I feel that his replacement would be a far bigger downgrade than the replacement for samuel.

(Even though i do like Samuel a lot and never criticize him)

 

[psychoPat]

Not sure of Woody's money either but I think Koppen is a better value. Remember Woody couldn't even snap from the shotgun and is a guard now.

"Woody received a $9 million signing bonus for two overweight seasons at guard and now an injury-prone 2006 season. His salary spikes next year, so we suspect he'll get cut in the off-season."
That - from a FoxSports site - isn't the full story, of course. But it is something.
I recall thinking of Woody, smoothed out, as a 6-million dollar-per-year man.

 

[arrellbee]

And the first chapter is written in the saga:
"What are the Patriots going to do with all of that cap space."

It's quite possible that we are seeing the maturation of a 6 year process where young talent has been added to the team and some of these players are now considered solid enough to contribute high level performance for several years to come. A higher percentage of the roster will be Belichick raised players and should begin to provide significant continuity and steady top level performance. How great it is.

 

[zippo59]

Sweetness....(and no, I'm not referring to Walter Payton.)

 

[CrazyDave]

And the first chapter is written in the saga:
"What are the Patriots going to do with all of that cap space."

That's my question. Not that I'm concerned, but I'm curious as to how this affects the "Why don't they spend to the damn cap" crowd.

 

[Fencer]

Wahoo!

• Of all the young guys emerging as leaders, he was one of the clearest and best cases. There are 5+ onfield signal callers on a team (QB, C, ILB, S, KO guy, plus anybody else I'm forgetting), and he's our youngest.
• The guy went to college here and gets to stay. Good for him!
• We now have DEPTH on the OL locked up for a few years. And it's cheaper than the Jarvis Green signing too. (Hochstein is the depth guy.)
• Graham makes a tremendous difference to this OL -- he's the difference between decent and excellent blocking. Sign him for generous money.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Great move by the Pats, having an O-line together for a while is really a big bonus, the more they play together, the better they communicate and protect "the franchise".

Koppen has been an absolute steal for a fifth round pick! I'm pretty sure he has been a starter since day one. Nice to see him get an extension.

Plus he is Brady's best friend on the team.

I would love to see them extend both Graham and Samuel. But even if they don't only having to deal with two FA, makes the off season much less imposing.

A few months ago we were looking at going into this off-season with having to sign Seymour, Koppen, Graham, and Samuel.

Now that list is down to only Graham and Samuel.

 

[captain stone]

For comparison, LeCharles Bently got :

Signed a five-year, $36 million contract on 3/11/2006. The deal includes $12.5 million in guaranteed money.

I know, Bently is a pro bowler. But if you think we paid a lot, they paid almost twice as much.

This puts it in perspective; I was concerned about the #s also.

I think it's fair to say that Koppen is more than half the player Bentley is; I also agree that I wouldn't be surprised if Graham and Samuel test the FA waters, esp. Samuel.

 

[hwc]

Koppen is a much better investment that Woody. Woody was always teetering on the bring of turning into a fat tub of goo while he was here. Plus a center who has to be replaced on 3rd down because he can't shotgun snap is a bit of a problem.

Koppen is a really important signing, IMO. He delivers some key blocks in the running game, pulling from the center position.